Following layoffs at BioWare affecting key Dragon Age: The Veilguard developers, a former writer offered reassurance to fans, stating, "DA isn't dead because it's yours now."
This week's EA restructuring prioritized Mass Effect 5, reassigning some Veilguard staff to other EA studios (Game Developer reported John Epler, Veilguard's creative director, joined Full Circle's Skate project). However, other developers were laid off.
This followed EA's announcement of Veilguard's underperformance, reporting 1.5 million engaged players—significantly below projections. It's unclear if this figure represents unit sales, includes EA Play Pro subscribers, or accounts for a free trial period.
Regardless, the announcement, BioWare's restructuring, and layoffs fueled fan concerns about the Dragon Age franchise's future. The Veilguard lacks planned DLC, and BioWare concluded its work on the game last week.
However, Sheryl Chee, a former senior writer on Dragon Age: The Veilguard (now working on Iron Man at Motive), shared a message of hope on social media. She acknowledged the difficult past two years but emphasized her continued employment. Responding to fan anxieties about Dragon Age's demise, she highlighted the power of fan contributions:
"But DA isn't dead. There's fic. There's art. There's the connections we made through the games and because of the games. Technically EA/BioWare owns the IP but you can't own an idea, no matter how much they want to. DA isn't dead because it's yours now."
She further explained that fan-created content, such as AU stories, embodies the spirit of Dragon Age and fulfills the game's purpose.
Dragon Age's history includes Dragon Age: Origins (2010), Dragon Age 2 (2011), and Dragon Age: Inquisition (2014), with a significant gap before The Veilguard's release. In contrast to The Veilguard's reception, Mark Darrah (former executive producer, departed in 2020) revealed that Dragon Age: Inquisition sold over 12 million copies, exceeding EA's projections.
While EA hasn't declared Dragon Age dead, the future of the franchise remains uncertain given BioWare's current focus on Mass Effect 5. EA confirmed a dedicated team is developing Mass Effect 5, led by veterans from the original trilogy.
